Acupuncture
What can Acupuncture treat?
Since its introduction to the West, acupuncture has been used to treat or cure a wide range of ailments. In the late 1970s, the World Health Organization recognized the ability of acupuncture and Oriental medicine to treat nearly four dozen common ailments, including
Neuromusculoskeletal conditions (such as arthritis, neuralgia, insomnia, dizziness, and neck/shoulder pain);
Emotional and psychological disorders (such as depression and anxiety);
Circulatory disorders (such as hypertension, angina pectoris, arteriosclerosis and anemia);
Addictions to alcohol , nicotine and other drugs;
Respiratory disorders (such as emphysema, sinusitis, allergies and bronchitis); and
Gastrointestinal conditions (such as food allergies, ulcers, chronic diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, intestinal weakness, anorexia and gastritis).
Fertility issues. Acupuncture helps balance hormones, increases blood flow, reduces stress and enhances IVF outcomes.
In 1997, a consensus statement released by the National Institutes of Health found that acupuncture could be useful by itself or in combination with other therapies to treat
Addiction– alcohol, drugs, smoking
Anxiety
Arthritis
Asthma
Bronchitis
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Chronic fatigue
Colitis
Constipation
Dental pain
Depression
Diarrhea
Digestive trouble
Dizziness
Dysentery
Emotional problems
Eye problems
Facial palsy/tics
Fatigue
Fibromyalgia
Gingivitis
Headache
Hiccough
Incontinence
Indigestion
Irritable bowel syndrome
Low back pain
Menopause
Menstrual irregularities/PMS
Migraine
Morning sickness
Nausea
Osteoarthritis
Pain (acute and chronic)
Pneumonia
Reproductive/fertility problems
Sciatica
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
Shoulder pain
Sinusitis
Sleep disturbances
Smoking cessation
Sore throat
Stress
Tennis elbow
Tonsillitis
Tooth pain
Trigeminal neuralgia
Urinary tract infections
Vomiting
Wrist pain
Other studies have demonstrated that acupuncture may help in the rehabilitation
of stroke patients and can relieve nausea in patients recovering from surgery.
How Acupuncture Works for Fertility
Acupuncture may potentially improve your fertility in several ways:
Balances hormones: Acupuncture stimulates the endocrine system, which is responsible for producing and releasing hormones that affect ovulation, menstruation, and pregnancy. By balancing the levels of hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH), acupuncture may help better prepare your body for fertility treatment.
Increases blood flow: Acupuncture helps to increase blood circulation to the reproductive organs, especially the uterus and ovaries. This may improve the quality and quantity of eggs and the thickness and receptivity of the uterine lining. A well-nourished uterus and ovaries can increase your chances of conceiving and carrying a healthy baby.
Reduces stress: Stress can have a negative impact on your fertility by disrupting your hormonal balance, affecting your ovulation, and lowering your libido. Acupuncture is known to reduce stress by stimulating the release of endorphins. It also can calm your nervous system and lower your blood pressure, improving your overall health and well-being.
How Acupuncture Complements Fertility Treatments
Acupuncture can be a valuable addition to your fertility treatment plan, whether you are trying to conceive naturally or with assisted reproductive technologies (ART) such as IVF. Here are some of the ways acupuncture can complement your fertility treatments:
Enhances IVF outcomes: Some studies have suggested that acupuncture performed before and after embryo transfer can increase the pregnancy rates of IVF patients. This may be due to acupuncture’s ability to improve blood flow to the uterus, relax the uterine muscles, and reduce stress and anxiety3. Acupuncture can also help reduce some side effects of IVF medications, such as bloating, nausea, headaches, and mood swings.
Supports overall wellness: Acupuncture can help you address other health issues that may affect your fertility indirectly, such as insomnia, digestive problems, allergies, or chronic pain. By improving your sleep quality, digestion, immunity, and pain relief, acupuncture can help you feel more comfortable and energetic throughout your fertility journey.
Promotes emotional well-being: Trying to conceive can be emotionally challenging and cause frustration, sadness, anger, or guilt. Acupuncture can help you cope with these emotions by providing a safe and supportive space to express yourself and receive compassionate care. Acupuncture can also help you cultivate a positive and hopeful mindset to boost your confidence and resilience.
Auriculotherapy (Ear Acupuncture)
Auricular diagnosis and treatment play an important part in Traditional Chinese Medicine. More than two thousand years ago, Chinese ancestors found out that the human body’s disease could reflect in the related ear points. They created the different auricular treatment such as auricular massage, auricular moxibustion, ear apex bleeding, auricular herbal application through the bamboo tube. Some of these methods are still being used in today’s practice.
Besides anti-aging, weight loss and smoking cessation, auricular treatment in one of the most effective methods for drug addiction as recognized by the U.S. government.
According to the British acupuncture council, “acupuncture is believed to stimulate the nervous system and cause the release of neurochemical messenger molecules. The resulting biochemical changes influence the body’s homeostatic mechanisms, thus promoting physical and emotional well-being.” Ear acupuncture, which uses the same mechanism of treatment and also stimulates acupuncture points, likely has the same effect.
Homeostasis is the state of equilibrium where our bodies function best. Returning to homeostasis is one of the important thing that our bodies do subconsciously—it keeps us alive! Right now, without your conscious thought, your body is, at this very moment, managing the pH of your blood, regulating your temperature, controlling blood flow and heart rate, digesting food in your system and so much more! Ear acupuncture helps the body return to homeostasis, especially after a stressful experience, for example like being exposed to an allergen.
With time, ear acupuncture may help train your body to return to this state more easily. This encourages less stress, less extreme negative emotion, less illness, better immune system function, less susceptibility to inflammation, more energy and a higher sense of wellbeing.
